The Nixons: A Family Portrait

I Was in my Twenties when Richard Nixon was President, a veteran of the Vietnam war. I knew very little of the Nixon family or background till reading this detailed Auto/biography. Edward Nixon and Karen Olson do a tremendous Job of tying all the family history together, without leaving holes in the story. A tremendous job of research and formatting. Recommend this read for all history buffs, the younger generation of inquisitive minds!

Edward Nixon and co-author Karen Olson have written a book that adds much to our understanding of the 37th President. This portrait, as the title suggests, is not a biography of Richard Nixon--that story has been told and will continue to be told as long as United States and 20th century history remains of interest. Rather, this is portrait of an ordinary, but admirable, family that happens to have at its center an epically important American president. This memoir provides an intriguing glimpse into the blessings and burdens of belonging to such a family. To their credit, the Nixons never exploited their position when they could have and stood by President Nixon when, as Henry Kissinger put it in his 1994 eulogy, the pinnacle turned into a precipice. I found this book remarkable on various levels. First, the writing has the clear, linear style that characterized Richard Nixon's own writings. The authors are direct and plain-spoken and the story gallups at a fast pace. Second, there is no trace of bitterness or recrimination here. The author, who comes through as an extraordinary decent man, tells his family's story with gratitude and absolutely no score-settling. After reading Edward Nixon's summing up of his brother's accomplishments, one better understands President Nixon's difficult role in history. He governed at a time when the U.S. faced only bad choices--to intensify the war in Viet Nam or withdraw in defeat; to condemn impotently China's Cultural Revolution or to develop a new uncertain relationship that would alienate his own political allies; to inflame racial tensions by opposing school desegregation or to do the same by carrying it out; to defend Israel and risk an oil boycott or see the Zionist dream perish. President Nixon took principled stands on all these issues and made more enemies than friends as a result. Watergate gets short shrift in this book--neither excused nor condemned. Instead, this book shows that Richard Nixon--like perhaps Anwar Sadat and Mikhail Gorbachev--faced tough choices, blazed new trails and showed that pioneers tend to get the arrows. Like these two other leaders, he is perhaps more popular abroad than in his own country. And Ms. Olson's co-authorship shows that good deeds are rewarded.

I just love to read memoirs! And it's probably no coincidence the next book to cross my path was just that - a memoir. This time I read The Nixons: A Family Portrait wherein President Richard Nixon's youngest brother, Ed Nixon, recalls his famous brothers presidency and his own travels to all 50 states and beyond! This memoir is beautifully penned by Ed Nixon and co-authored by Karen Olson. Karen Olson shares her memories on the Republican National Conventions of 1968 and 1972 and the special visit she received from Richard Nixon to her Seattle home when she was 13-years-old! Together, Ed and Karen have woven a timeless story that reads along as one of the best stories you've read. We have all heard a plethora of stories about life during the Great Depression. This memoir captures the spirit that grew into Americans who lived during this timeframe. Richard Nixon was no different - he was solidified in his Quaker roots, a large and close family life, and family business where every member participated. Losing two brothers to TB was tragic and one of the most touching portions from Dick's childhood is the story Ed recalls about the mixer brothers Dick and Harold buy for their mother's birthday. Harold looses his battle with TB the same day as his mother's birthday and Dick gives his mother the mixer. The lessons learned from family life are interspersed all throughout The Nixons. The influence of Dick's father transcend into his political ideology and the successes that Dick had in reaching the highest political office in the country. His own father expressed great frustration with the expansion of government and was concerned social and economic programs would erode self-reliance and require the government's continued assistance. Ed recalls hearing his father's influence in Dick's first inauguration speech regarding the continued worry of big government and Americans not taking care of their own general welfare. Ed focuses heartily in his memoir on all the positive aspects of his brothers presidency. Dick's role in the Herter Committee to help Europe recover from the devastating impacts of WWII was the catalyst pushing him into the international spotlight as a leader. Also highlighted is Dick's support of the Civil Rights Act of 1957, his conversations with China and the Soviet Union, ending the Vietnam War and the draft, supporting the 18-year-old vote, and the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Ed's own influence in relating the devastating Santa Barbara oil spill in 1969 without a doubt influenced his brothers successes in creating the EPA. For those curious to delve more into the Watergate saga - this book only touches briefly on the subject. Ed mentions the poor quality of the Watergate tapes - how can one really accurately transcribe tapes that are muffled and full of simultaneously speaking participants? This struck a chord with me as it's exactly what I've spent my career doing - working for

"The Nixons-A Family Portrait" is a heartwarming history of Richard Nixon's family. The book is richly detailed, and written with warmth and humor. The Nixon family's love and strong work ethics are evident throughout the book. A touching and refreshing insight into this influential family. Highly recommended.

I met Ed Nixon at coauthor Karen Olson's home in 2005 while they were working on "The Nixons: A Family Portrait". Ed's first words to me were, "Ah, the famous Laurie Sperry". Since Ed looks quite a bit like his famous brother and I am nowhere near being famous, I thought his remarks were quite humorous. Ed's sense of humor and wit definitely come through in the Nixon family stories he recounts in the book. The family stories give a unique and humanizing perspective of President Richard Nixon. No major revelations on Watergate-but the book does give a hint as to why Richard resigned the presidency. In some parts of the book Richard Nixon almost seems ahead of his time, starting the Environmental Protection Agency, and seeking energy alternatives to oil. "The Nixons: A Family Portrait" is a great read and would be of interest to Nixon friends and foes alike. Oh- I almost forgot. Richard Nixon came to coauthor Karen Olson's Seattle home, when she was about 12 or 13 years old. The story is in the book, pictures and everything. It's a great story.